Keane pristine at the Pantages

Keane lead singer Tom Chaplin performs at the Pantages Theatre in Hollywood on Saturday night. ARMANDO BROWN, FOR THE REGISTER

Keane

Encore: Sea Fog / Sovereign Light Café / Crystal Ball

With: Youngblood Hawke

Where: The Pantages Theatre, Hollywood

When: Jan. 12

American entertainment writers routinely draft lists reflecting various best or worst topics. Across the pond, the process is downright silly. Music monthly Q’s December issue featured what its scribes deemed the 50 weediest (British slang for “wimpiest”) songs ever.

Keane landed in the middle. Coldplay and Snow Patrol – fellow U.K. acts that also have successfully mined heart-on-sleeve alt-pop territory – ranked much higher. (Elsewhere in the magazine was a spread about Keane’s rabid following in the Orient, go figure.)

Nearly a decade after the international success of its first disc Hopes and Fears, Keane retains a winning track record back home. Last year’s excellent Strangeland album was the band’s fifth consecutive title to debut atop the charts (a feat surpassed only by the Beatles) and certified gold there for sales of 100,000 copies.

Here, the release made a Top 20 bow and received moderate airplay at adult rock radio stations. The band simply hasn’t gotten the attention it deserves. Unlike recent efforts, Strangeland favors concise songs, emotional directness and atmospheric melodies – all hallmarks that made Hopes and Fears a classic of the '00s.

During a sold-out show at the Pantages Theatre in Hollywood, Keane dug deeply into both collections with highly satisfying results. Bathed in shadowy light and rays of sun on a backdrop, the quartet opened their 100-minute, 23-song set with “You Are Young.” Lanky singer Tom Chaplin optimistically sang, “You’ve got time / You’ve got to try to bring some good into this world.”

Early hit “Bend and Break,” driven by Tim Rice-Oxley’s bright piano tones and Chaplin’s soaring delivery, was vibrant as ever. A punchy, syncopated “On the Road” found the frontman indulging some arm pumps and he worked both sides of the stage during “Nothing in My Way.”

The glorious “The Lovers Are Losing” was an early highlight, boasting the rare appearance of an electric guitar onstage (Keane’s music used to revolve around keyboards and drums, then gradually incorporated bass). Chaplin strummed it, assisted by all the musicians on backing vocals.

When Rice-Oxley triggered synth squiggles during “Everybody’s Changing,” the Pantages' mix was so pristine you’d swear it was surround sound. Before the subtle ballad “She Has No Time,” Chaplin noted that it was written about a girl he was “chasing and she wasn’t playing ball.” Lovely Fender Rhodes added to the idyllic quality and fans vigorously clapped along during the sprightly “Neon River.” Meanwhile, “A Bad Dream” was really intense as Rice-Oxley hunched over the keys playing minor chords.

Later, Chaplin sat down to play keyboards on the somber “Hamburg Song.” He recalled playing Keane’s first U.S. gig at the Viper Room just a few miles away and “this incredible journey we’ve been on” since then, before providing an angelic vocal that garnered a rousing response.

Lest anyone think Keane can’t rock out, “Is It Any Wonder?” proved doubters wrong with some dynamic and squelching Achtung Baby-era U2 sounds. Finally, the band rounded out its main set with a glorious triptych – “This Is the Last Time,” “Somewhere Only We Know” and “Bedshaped” – with Chaplin’s robust singing leading the way. Among the encore standouts was the blissful hometown reminiscence “Sovereign Light Café,” one of the best live cuts Keane has ever offered in Southern California.

Youngblood Hawke warmed up the crowd with an engaging 35-minute performance. The L.A. band and current KROQ mainstay is led by former Iglu & Hartly members Sam Martin on vocals and multi-instrumentalist Simon Katz. Together with four other musicians, they emphasize multiple vocals and percussion in a live setting.

At the Pantages they would sometimes pound drums simultaneously. Martin was a live wire, constantly moving while trading vocals with Alice Katz. Songs from 2012’s eponymous EP fared well, especially the catchy “We Come Running” (a Top 10 modern rock hit), the wavering chants of “Stars (Hold On)” and exuberant “Forever.”

Set list: Keane at the Pantages Theatre, Hollywood, Jan. 12, 2013Main set: You Are Young / Bend and Break / On the Road / We Might as Well Be Strangers / Nothing in My Way / The Lovers Are Losing / Silenced by the Night / Everybody’s Changing / She Has No Time / Neon River / Spiralling / A Bad Dream / Hamburg Song / Leaving So Soon? / My Shadow / Disconnected / Is It Any Wonder? / This Is the Last Time / Somewhere Only We Know / BedshapedEncore: Sea Fog / Sovereign Light Café / Crystal Ball

Keane lead singer Tom Chaplin performs at the Pantages Theatre in Hollywood on Saturday night. ARMANDO BROWN, FOR THE REGISTER
Keane lead singer Tom Chaplin performs at the Pantages Theatre in Hollywood on Saturday night. ARMANDO BROWN, FOR THE REGISTER
Youngblood Hawke's Tasso Smith and Alice Katz perform as the opening band for Keane on Saturday at the Pantages Theatre in Hollywood. ARMANDO BROWN, FOR THE REGISTER
Fans watch Keane lead singer Tom Chaplin perform at the Pantages Theatre in Hollywood on Saturday night. ARMANDO BROWN, FOR THE REGISTER
Keane performs at the Pantages Theatre in Hollywood on Saturday night. ARMANDO BROWN, FOR THE REGISTER
Youngblood Hawke lead singer Sam Martin performs during the band's opening set for Keane at the Pantages Theatre in Hollywood. ARMANDO BROWN, FOR THE REGISTER
Fans hang out in the lobby of the Pantages Theatre before Keane's performance on Saturday. ARMANDO BROWN, FOR THE REGISTER
Big time Keane fan Robin Chen was all smiles at Saturday night's show at the Pantages Theatre. He also saw the group the last time they were in L.A., at the Orpheum last summer. ARMANDO BROWN, FOR THE REGISTER
Kharlee, left, and Erin came down from Bakersfield just to see Keane at the Pantages Theatre in Hollywood. ARMANDO BROWN, FOR THE REGISTER
Keane lead singer Tom Chaplin performs at the Pantages Theatre in Hollywood on Saturday night. ARMANDO BROWN, FOR THE REGISTER
Keane lead singer Tom Chaplin performs at the Pantages Theatre in Hollywood on Saturday night. ARMANDO BROWN, FOR THE REGISTER
Youngblood Hawke guitarist Simon Katz performs during the band's set opening for Keane at the Pantages Theatre in Hollywood. ARMANDO BROWN, FOR THE REGISTER
Fans begin to fill the Pantages Theatre for Keane's performance on Saturday. ARMANDO BROWN, FOR THE REGISTER
Youngblood Hawke's bassist performs during the band's opening set for Keane at the Pantages Theatre in Hollywood. ARMANDO BROWN, FOR THE REGISTER
Youngblood Hawke lead singer Sam Martin plays drums during the band's opening set for Keane on Saturday at the Pantages Theatre in Hollywood. ARMANDO BROWN, FOR THE REGISTER
Nicole, Steve and Yan, from left, hang out before Saturday's Keane performance at the Pantages Theatre in Hollywood. ARMANDO BROWN, FOR THE REGISTER
Irvine residents Cedric and Karin Bray were in Hollywood for Saturday night's Keane concert at the Pantages Theatre. ARMANDO BROWN, FOR THE REGISTER
Heather, Adam and Lupe, from left, enjoy the scene at Saturday's Keane performance at the Pantages Theatre in Hollywood. ARMANDO BROWN, FOR THE REGISTER

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